Kilmovee

In pre-Norman Ireland, the lands of Kilmovee formed part of the Kingdom of Sliabh Lugha, a territory ruled by the O'Gadhra Dynasty. Sliabh Lugha was a subdivision of the larger Gailenga kingdom, from which derives the modern name Gallen.

After the Norman Invasion, the parish of Kilmovee became part of the Barony of Costello. The Nangle or de Angelo invaders came southwest from the De Lacy territory in Carrick-on-Shannon and forced the O'Gadhras from their stronghold in Airtech Mór, building their own castle there in 1225. It became known as Castlemore and the region was sometimes called Castlemore-MacCostello.

Coolavin - The sept of O'Gara were given as Lord of Cuil Obh-Finn (Prince of Coolavin) and of Sliabh Lugha which was part of the Barony of Costello in Co. Mayo, where they had spread in the 13th century. O'Gara was seated at Moygara castle. By the 13th century the MacDermots became lords of Coolavin.

— Ireland's History in Maps

The Annals of Connacht mention a skirmish which took place in Clooncara, Kilmovee in 1464:

1464.51

An attack was made by Muirgius son of Cormac Mac Diarmata Gall, at Cluain Carthaig in Sliab Luga, on Edmund of the Plain Mac Goisdelb, wherein Tomaltach Oc O Gadra was killed with one cast of a javelin.

— Annals of Connacht The Miscellany of the Irish Archaeological Society. Vol. 1

Samuel Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, published in 1837, gives the following account of Kilmovee:

KILMOVEE, a parish, in the Barony of Costello, County Mayo, and province of Connacht, 5 miles (W. by N.) from Ballaghadereen, on the road to Castlebar; containing 4240 inhabitants. It comprises 19,668 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act, including 8500 acres of bog, and the remainder is very barren and mountainous.
It is a vicarage, in the diocese of Achonry, forming part of the union of Castlemore; the rectory is impropriate in Viscount Dillon. The tithes amount to £200. 8. 10., which is equally divided between the impropriator and the vicar. The R. C. parish is co-extensive with that of the Established Church, and has chapels at Kilmovee and Glen. About 330 children are educated in four private schools. There are some remains of the old church in a burial-ground.

— Library Ireland

An ogham stone found in a wall in Kilmovee is now mounted beside "The Three Wells." "The Three Wells" are reputed to have sprung up when St. Mobhi struck the ground with his staff when he had no water to baptise the local people.

According to the Celtic Inscribed Stones Project the inscription is somewhat damaged but the legible part reads: "ALATTOS MAQI BR"[--.^[5]

The parish of Kilmovee has several Iron Age stone forts in various states, including Kilcashel Stone Fort.^[6]

The Glebe

The residence of the Protestant Rector for Ballaghaderreen. When the French army was marching east from Killala to Longford, the battalion came through Kilmovee to cross the River Lung. Local farmers joined the battalion to fight off the enemy. When the battalion was defeated, the local farmers’ lands were confiscated and given to the Protestant Church.^{[citation needed]}

Church of Mobhí

Kilmovee is known in Irish as Cill Mobhí (Church of Mobhí). Mobhí (Irish pronunciation: [mˠəˈvʲiː]) was known as "Mobhí the Teacher" and is believed to have died in 544 AD. The name Mobhí is a pet form of the name Berchán.^[7] A pestilence which devastated Ireland in 544 caused the dispersion of Mobhi's disciples, and Columba returned to Ulster.^[8]

Old RIC Barrack

According to the 1901 Census of the United Kingdom there were three Royal Irish Constabulary barracks in the parish of Kilmovee; one in Kilkelly, one at Rathnagussaun and one at Sraheens. The Barracks at Sraheens is still standing though now derelict. During the War of Independence, in June 1921, the RIC barracks at Sraheens was subjected to sniper fire from the Kilkelly Company of the East Mayo IRA under the command of Mick Moffett. One Black and Tans soldier was wounded during the operation and as a result the barracks was abandoned.^[9]

In 1975, Kilmovee teacher Seosamh Mac Gabhann set up a Senior Céilí Band in Kilmovee, named Ceoltóirí Mobhí. The band gained recognition with two of their jigs, known as "The Kilmovee Jigs".^[10] In 1977 one of the first rural swimming pools in Ireland was opened in Kilmovee.^[11]

An annual charity running event, the Kilmovee 10K began in April 2010. It has been called "the flattest 10k in Ireland" and has attracted runners from all over the country.^[12][13]

Kilmovee Shamrocks is the local GAA club. The Shamrocks have competed in county and regional competitions. Some of these club's Ladies' Gaelic football players have won All-Ireland titles with the Mayo senior and minor teams and at other levels.^{[citation needed]} Kilmovee GAA won the under-21 Mayo final in September 2007 for the first time. The Shamrocks also won the Under 18 title for the third time in a row in October 2007.^{[citation needed]}

Townlands in the area include:^{[citation needed]}

• Kilmovee Community Council
• YouTube video of a drive through Kilmovee
• 1901 Census of Kilmovee. Search for Kilmovee in the Parish box
• Griffith's Valuation: Kilmovee 1856-1857
• Tithe Applotments - Kilmovee Civil Parish 1825
• Kilkelly Ireland letters and song
• Survey Maps of Kilmovee townlands